FYI

For more information visit www.mihbpa.com or facebook.com/MiHBPA or call 248-561-5934. For more information about Hazel Park Raceway, located at 1650 E 10 Mile Road, vist hazelparkraceway.com.

Thoroughbred horse racing has returned to Oakland County.

Hazel Park Raceway will be the first converted race track in Michigan with new surfaces, new railings, rehabilitated barns, improved facilities and infrastructure.

Horses began moving into the stalls and exercise areas this past Monday, June 16. The horses will begin their race meet on Friday and Saturday nights starting June 27 and June 28 with a Grand Reintroduction planned for Friday, July 4. Every Friday and Saturday evening (16 weekends) until Oct. 11 will have a 7:30 p.m. post time. “I began working and negotiating with all three racetracks in southeast Michigan in 2010,” explained George Kutlenios, president of the Michigan Horsemen’s Protective and Benevolent Association (Michigan HBPA) for two years and board member for five. “After this long-sought agreement was in place in January of 2014, the Michigan Gaming Control Board issued executive orders that allow for Thoroughbred racing to return to the Metropolitan Detroit Area.”

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Kutlenios and his wife, Chrissy, are very familiar with operating a business and they understand the cycle of economics in Oakland County as they are successful owners of the Holly Hotel. They live on a 60 acre horse farm in Holly where they have raised race horses and have also kept retired racehorses for the past 12 years.

“The MiHBPA organizes each racing meet, coordinates the availability of Thoroughbred horses to race at Michigan race tracks and generally oversees each race meet every year,” added Kutlenios. “We also provide benevolent services to our members like health and dental care.”

Kutlenios believes that it doesn’t matter if a horseman has one horse or a stable of horses, he sees the Michigan Horsemen’s Protective and Benevolent Association as being the voice of thoroughbred owners, breeders and trainers that race in Michigan and throughout the country.

“We are horsemen helping horsemen,” he said.

According to Kutlenios, the services also include promotion of the safety of Thoroughbred racing in Michigan to existing and potential fans across the state. Thoroughbred horse racing began in 1933, long before our state was involved in casinos or lotteries or internet betting.

At present, approximately 400 horses are expected to be stabled at Hazel Park, which was considered the premier location for Michigan Thoroughbred racing until 1984. Today, horses will be “shipped in” for races every weekend from Michigan farms and from out of state tracks.

“The Michigan HBPA and the horsemen and women of our sport are ecstatic with this new relationship between Hazel Park and our organization,” said Kutlenios. “The return of our breed in the Detroit and Oakland County market offers even more opportunities for new and veteran horse racing fans to enjoy Thoroughbred racing in the metro area.”

Significant changes with new opportunities will generate more revenue in the future for racing including Advanced Deposit Wagering and horse racing video lottery terminals. The industry anticipates a 20 percent to 30 percent increase in revenue and attendance with new fans and supporters that will ultimately affect attendance.

“For the fiscal year of 2013 through May of 2014, the simulcast tax revenue generated by horse racing for the Michigan Agriculture Equine Improvement and Development Fund was $2,879,765,” said Kutlenios.

The sport of kings is celebrating a new generation as the Michigan equine-agricultural industry has long played a vital role and with a definite economic punch; it employs more than 12,000 Michigan residents including horse breeders, jockeys, grooms, hay and grain farmers, veterinarians, tractor, trucks and trailer dealerships and maintenance companies, stable managers, farriers, fencing, hardware – and the list goes on.

Kutlenios shared that Standarbred racing with carts can be done on a hard surface, but because Thoroughbreds run faster, they require a cushion of four to six inches of clay mixed with sandy loam/dirt.

“We are committed to providing the safest race track environment for the horses including the best conditions for the Thoroughbreds and the retirement and after-care of these magnificent athletes.”

Spending a day at the races can be affordable as dress is casual and admission and parking are free. Kutlenios is anxious for opening day when “Patrons can get up close to the horses and the jockeys in the paddocks. Everyone can attend a day at the races.”

Send horse or farm information, events or comments to sharonlgreene@hotmail.com

About the Author

Horse lover Sharon Greene’s column is featured in print every Sunday. She writes about everything equine related — nonprofits, events, horse care, and more. Reach the author at sharonlgreene@hotmail.com
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